Competition Summary

HOLIDAY FAIR DESIGN COMPETITION
Grand Central Terminal- New York City, NY

The Holiday Fair Design Competition is a joint event between the Metropolitan Transportation
Agency, the owner of Grand Central Terminal, Jones Lang LaSalle, the retail managers and the
U.S. Green Building Council New York Chapter. Participants are requested to submit designs
incorporating principles of sustainable design with principles of retail success through design
excellence, innovation and social consciousness. The competition is part of the ‘Green Central’
initiative of improved tenant design, construction and operations.
Participants will compete to be one of five finalists, and highlighted in a competition exhibit at
Grand Central. The five finalists will be recognized with prize awards and will be invited to
submit detailed proposals for the opportunity to engage in the contract of the development of the
retail booths and environment to be fabricated for the Holiday Fair 2009 with the intent of being
used in gift fairs following years.

COMPETITION OBJECTIVES

• Reduce the environmental impact in the design of retail environments.
• Highlight the presence, efforts, and initiative of green retail design in the green
  building movement.
• Promote a collaborative relationship between designers, esteemed individuals from
  the USGBC and green building industry and the design and operations leaders at
  Grand Central Terminal.
• Raise awareness of green design at Grand Central Terminal.
• Utilize LEED™ as a guideline for building and industrial design.
• Recognize and award green designers and builders for their dedication, creativity,
  innovation, and commitment to sustainable design.
• Bring awareness to continuing efforts of the revitalization of Grand Central Terminal
  and its anniversary program to reduce environmental impact.

PROJECT CONTEXT OVERVIEW
The Holiday Fair and Spring Fair are renowned events and Grand Central’s highlight of season’s
best offerings. It is host to 76 participating artisan vendors with unique gifts and goods from
emerging and established designers including jewelry, clothing, toys, home furnishings,
stationary and bath products.

Vanderbilt Hall was originally designed as a waiting room for train passengers, and was restored
in 1992 which inaugurated the space as an exhibition and special events venue. The success of
Vanderbilt Hall’s restoration initiated further plans to restore and redevelop Grand Central,
including main public areas and retail tenant spaces which was completed and rededicated in
1998. Vanderbilt Hall will soon to undergo restoration once again with incorporation of energy
conservation methodologies and continue the dedication to care and maintain the historic space.
This competition is for the responsible design of seasonal retail environments in a historic
building. These environments support the gift fair events that have become a New York tradition
for both tourists and locals and a component of the seasonal festive celebration which also
includes the famed Holiday Light show on the Main Concourse. Each day brings over 700,000
visitors to the Terminal, and during the holiday season the number of visitors often increases
beyond normal traffic. Grand Central is a great public space which is open each day, revealing its
wonders to both those who pass through and those who come to experience the specialty shops
and restaurants.

COMPETITION DESIGN CHALLENGE
Design a modular retail system with separate architectural panels or skins to be proposed for
holiday and spring appropriate to each seasonal theme. Thematic and architectural statements are
welcome and must incorporate flexibility, durability and design integrity within the historic
context. Include provisions for display shelving and component standards. Reuse of existing
components of booth structure may be proposed as a solution. The proposal must account for
continued longevity and a 10 year minimum life span. Modularity, flexibility, visual impact for
retail success, and reduced environmental impact and waste through LEED™ guidelines should
be incorporated into the design.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Vanderbilt Hall: Approx. 12,500 SF located on the south side of Grand Central with access to
42nd Street and the Main Concourse.

• Floor plan layout accommodating a minimum of 72 vendors promoting vendor visibility
  and smooth pedestrian traffic and code compliant egress. Existing set up may be
  modified:
  Main floor: (68) units approximately 10’W x 8’D x 15’H
  Alcove: (8) units approximately 12’W x 10’ D
• Profile to optimize display & merchandise and maintain architectural quality and
  harmony with the historic context of the room.
• Components to be structurally secure from impact and gravity and easy to install and
  deconstruct
• Wall panel materials and components to be durable and maintenance friendly
• Electrical provisions for power to point of sale and lighting equipment and energy
  efficient adjustable lighting
• Retail and event identity signage as appropriate

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Each entry should be submitted on 24”x 36” boards with a maximum of 2 boards per
  entry with a CD of digital PDF file of the image fit to print at 11”x17” at 300 dpi.

Minimum submission to include:

• Unit section and details
• Floor plan
• Illustration of key elements of sustainable structure and materials
• Wall section OR detail illustrating special environmental features
• Photographs and identification of material specifications

PRIZES

• First Place: $5,000
• Second Place: $2,000
• Honorable Mention: $1,000 (3 awards)

Deadline for entries: May 30th , 2008 at 4pm EST. No submissions will be accepted after
this date and time. Send or deliver entries to:
Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.
25 Vanderbilt Avenue, Hall 2A
New York, NY 10017
ATTN: Holiday Fair Design Competition

Click Here for competition application and reference resources.